ABC News was called out by a former employee and several other viewers on Sunday after platforming a controversial Republican pollster to talk about division in U.S. politics.
Republican strategist Frank Luntz, who previously predicted that "voters will resent" Trump after he was found liable for business fraud, appeared on ABC over the weekend. The spot was hosted by chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz, and it focused on the upcoming presidential debate between Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.
“If we have another reaction like that first 2020 debate, where the two candidates just go at each other, at some point, our system breaks," Luntz said on the show. "Our democracy comes undone.”
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It didn't take long for pushback to surface online.
Matthew Dowd, who previously worked for George W. Bush's campaigns and served as an ABC News political analyst, lashed out on social media.
"Why on Earth is my former employer [ABC News' This Week] putting Frank Luntz on air???" Dowd asked. "He is a shyster of the first order and I told everyone at ABC that when I worked there."
Dowd wasn't the only one with concerns.
One user, @Kikoqua1990, wrote, "Dear ABC: cancel your relationship with Frank [Luntz] & Nate Silver! Instead of adding value, they cheapen your programming & are often wrong. Meanwhile, there are new & accurate people in these fields who would welcome the opportunity to raise the bar."
@gaz2002 added, "Frank Luntz lies like that rug on top of his head, he’s a political opportunist and water boy for the RNC & Mango Mussolini."
@Joke2power simply said, "Luntz is a putz."
@mcloving chimed in: "Why is the propagandist Frank Luntz on ABC This Week discussing Democracy and division? Luntz helped [create] this division!"
@LeonardRiccardi said, "What the HELL are you doing having Frank Luntz on this show! HE is one of the people that had created this divide in our country! This is NOT a both sides issue!! Thank you Jon Meacham!! Both sides are NOT equally at fault!!"
@MashekJim said, "Frank Luntz I saw you this morning on ABC. You're pathetic. Grow a backbone already."
